Fanning-mill



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

T. M. BALES. FANNING MILL.

No. 499,952. Patented June 20, 1893.

IJVVEJVIOR W. 6612M WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. M. BALES.

PANNING MILL. No. 499,952. Patented June 20, 1893.

WITNESSES 8 IN VEJVTOR Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. BALES, OF DUBLIN, INDIANA.

'FANNlNG-MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,952, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed February 2, 1893. Serial No. 460,658- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. BALES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dublin, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fanning-Mills; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the mill. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same with riddles remved. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 is a vertical section. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the riddle frames detached, with the riddles removed. Figs.:7, 8 and 9 are detail views. Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of the fan casing and upper riddle frame with the riddle removed. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the vibratory riddle supporting frame.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in fanning mills or grain cleaners, the object being to provide a simple and effective machine of improved character; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings,

the letter A designates the'supporting frame, B the hopper, and O the blast wheel casing. Said casing has a horizontally extended discharge passage a, terminating under the discharge of the hopper, immediately above the upper end of the upper riddle D. Located in said opening is a wind board E, which can be adjusted to such an inclination as to direct the blast downwardly in the direction of and along the upper surface of the riddle. This arrangement of the blast I find to be particularly efiective for the reason that the chaff is blown downwardly in the same direction as the grain, effecting the separation much more effectively than is possible when anupward' blast through the riddle is employed, and the chaff has to be lifted or blown upwardly.

D is the upper riddle, and E the lower rid dle, and it will be observed that the shoes ordinarily employed for the riddles to work in are omitted from this machine, said riddles being supported by themselves, upon a vibratory frame. Said frame comprises thetwo levers b, b, one at each side of the mill, and pivoted each to an inclined bar or frame piece a secured to the uprights of the frame. Connecting said levers are two transverse rods (1, cl, upon which the riddles D and E are respectively supported at their intermediate portions by means of blocks 6 on their under sides notched for engagement with said rods.

F designates one of the brackets by means of which the levers b, b, are secured to the frame pieces 0, said brackets being secured to said frame pieces over said levers, and having each an inwardly projection integral pivot or studf, upon which the lever is fulcrumed. The upper end of each lever b, b, is bent outwardly at right angles, and thence downwardly, as shown at g, and in the outer downward arm is formed a perforation, which is engaged by the cranked end of the pitnam G, the other end of which is connected to a crank pin on the fan shaft. By this form of connection between the pitmen and levers, I dispense with the necessity for a key or pin to secure the connections, the cranked ends of the pitmen preventing their withdrawal from the levers.

When the fan shaft is opera-ted, the pitmen will impart an opposite vibratory reciprocating movement to the riddles, the upper riddle at its lower end sliding upon the inclined ends of the frame pieces 0, while the lower portion of the lower riddle slides upon the upper edge of a transverse piece h of the frame.

By doing away with the shoes, I not only make the mill much lighter, and more easily operated, but, as will be apparent, it is much easier to change the riddles for difierent kinds of grain. To do this it is only necessary to lift the riddle from its supporting rod, and substitute another one therefor.

The upper riddle, as is seen in Figs. 4; and 6, has at its upper portion a piece of sheet metal L, secured to its under side in order to catch the grain as it falls through the meshes of the riddle, and carryit to a point where it will be discharged upon the upper portion of the lower riddle.

The boxes m in which the fan shaft is journaled consist of blocks of wood, having a bearing at m for the shaft, the blocks being split from this bearing to one end. These blocks are secured to the frame by means of screws, one of which passes through the split portion, and by tightening this screw; the wear at the bearing may be taken up. This, together with the fact that the boxes" are of wood, prevents to a large extent, the noise 21nd vibration caused by the operation of the Secured to the frame A at each side is an inclined piece 3, which forms a guard to" prevent the grain from falling off the lateral edges of the upper riddle;

Having described this invention, what I clarmgand desir'e'to seen-relay Letters Patent, is

the rame having the lateral bars 1;, a, orthe sprig-Hts b; btpivoted intermediarely of their ends, o'ne to each of said bars Qrpiecesthe transverse; rods on'nectjngsaid uprights, the irppsrandi lower straits sirp nrtedaupnn sat-ti rbtl stsairl up er riddle terminating at-ifts in n'er end directly below a blastopenin-g in the faltr casing, means for eonrroll'ing the blast in said openinggand the inclined frame pieces 8 forming lateral guards for said upper riddle, sntstamtiany asls ecified;

2. In a grain cleaner, the combination with the main frame, having the inclined lateral bars or pieces 0, c, of the levers b, b, pivoted intermediately of their ends one to each of said bars or pieces, the transverse rods connecting said levers, the upper and lower rid- ,d les supported upon saidv rods, the inclined frame pieces s forming lateral guards for sald upper riddle and pitmen connecting sald 1e- ,vers, with the fan shaft, substantially as specified. 3; In a raincl'eane'r, the combination, wlth 5 the levers b, b, pivoted to the main frame, and the transverse rods connecting said leversand term te-g the support for the rid erles, said 1eerehaving th'ei i u perportinns bentoutward ly and dewmward ycr pitnrert connected at cheese: to the fiah shatrmnn: at the'otlrer'end Having eaclma cranked portion engaging a Y perforatiomiir tirencwnwanrlyromeoportion or the lever, substantial-11y as specifiers In testimony whereefl I afitx my signature in presenceor twowrnressest v H TH QMAS Bit-LESS: Witnesses:

JESSE Him-r,- 

